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57 The Headline | The Blog

Dublin, home to Dustin the Turkey, The Bagatelles and thinking you’re better than everybody else. It’s also where 57 The Headline is located, one of the best craft beer bars in the country. Where better for Team YellowBelly to host its first Dublin tap takeover, nowhere that’s where! No half measures this time as 12 great beers and 4 staff members made the short trip up the N11. Nick and Dec in the jeep, Darragh and I in the Peugeot. Seamus couldn’t attend as it was his 2nd cousins Bar Mitzvah.

We were last to leave, delayed by Darragh’s 45-minute grooming routine, but it seemed to be worth it. He was looking fresh. We made a quick stop off at the Maxol garage before we left. Diesel and a sandwich. We were already running late so I had to eat my sambo in transit, I could tell Darragh was pretty impressed by my daredevil antics. He looked on in awe as I easily juggled gear changing, wheel turning and chicken eating, all the while maintaining a decent level of conversation. Local Heroes Basciville were the soundtrack to this Road-trip. While we both enjoyed the classic ‘Sweetheart Rodeo’, we agreed that the criminally underrated ‘Sweet October’ was the best song on the EP. We sung along and speculated on the identity of the songs returning emigrant.

First Stop was the free Dart carpark in Greystones. This provided a safe but most importantly free place to leave the car overnight, and avoid the mayhem that is evening traffic in Dublin City. We just had time to go 10 minutes out of our way to the nearest O’Briens and stock up on beer for the 40-minute train journey. Fully branded in YellowBelly t-shirts we zipped up our jackets to avoid being recognized. We were on a tight schedule and didn’t have time for autographs and pleasantries. Two cans each, out the door, onto the train. We sipped our beverages and looked out at one of the most picturesque train views in the world. We gazed at the beautiful mansions around Dalkey and Kiliney, I pointed at one and told Darragh it was Bono’s. I had no idea if it was or not, but he seemed to get a kick out of it. We hopped off at Pearse Street and hailed a taxi.

We arrived at our destination at 6pm. Dec and Nick were already there, and getting themselves fully up to speed with The Headlines food offerings. We joined them for a pre-match burger. The place was already starting to fill up and the beer was flowing. It really was a who’s who of the Irish beer scene. Bloggers, brewers, barmen, bakers, and candlestick makers. Everyone was there. I chatted to John aka @thebeernut and tried to get a sneaky look at his notebook but to no avail. G’way IPA was the first to hit the dust and in general seemed to be the hit of the night, as well as the ever-popular Castaway. I was schmoozing away and just about holding it together until……..Salubrious Stout. The brainchild of Declan and home brewer extraordinaire Mark Lucey dealt the knockout blow. A 9%, silky, oak aged stout that was just having a laugh really. It was time to leave. Nick had the unenviable task of bringing us home in the back of his jeep. It’s being fumigated as we speak.

Thanks to Geoff, Maire and everyone at 57 The Headline for looking after us and for hosting the best beer-y night of 2016.